No Sarge. There is a limit.I'll agree with you that most people have degree of irrationality but when it gets to the point of specifically arming yourself to start taking out seven year olds or fellow employees. That is definitely outside the "normal" range.

I can understand "crimes of passion" and even a gangland hit that is cold bloodedly organised to get rid of rival (there is a certain rationality to this), but to start blazing away at people you don't know, are no threat and have done you no harm shows a complete withdrawal from the rest of humanity.

T.A.

When you get to the point of arming yourself to protect yourself against a democratic republic government because you think there is some conspiracy in that government to come after you, that is outside the normal range.

When you arm yourself for protection because you job makes you a target for the criminal element, e.g. transportation of large amounts of cash, that is a rational decision.

When you arm yourself for protection without any credible specific threat, that is borderline.

=====================================================
I will have to remember that the next time I shoot trap.

The man who "unleashed a barrage of gunfire" on three police officers this morning in New Jersey was an employee of the New Jersey Department of Corrections who had been arrested for allegedly stalking his ex-girlfriend's home.

The suspect was shot dead in the police station. Three police officers also were shot but are expected to make full recoveries.

Eddie Jones III, 39, of Willingboro, N.J., was arrested around 1 a.m., when he was found allegedly stalking the home of his former girlfriend.

Does a plastic full auto AR-15 set off a metal detector looking for a gun? Does it matter to a terrorist that he might only get a few hundred rounds out of a plastic gun compared to tens of thousands for a nice factory made metal one?

Does a plastic full auto AR-15 set off a metal detector looking for a gun? Does it matter to a terrorist that he might only get a few hundred rounds out of a plastic gun compared to tens of thousands for a nice factory made metal one?
[/quote

Whith the special plastics nowdays, Id say a firearm capable of a few hundred shots is possible before it blows up. However you still need ammo. Even caseless rounds that have been tried for years now, still have a metal bullet. I just cant see a plastice bullet with the mass to do a lot of damage Sting like hell yes.

The scanners they have to day can detect an objects shape. Look online and see what they see. If it looks like a gun it probally is one. And if it looks like a bullet it probally is one. Why do think some folks are up in arms about the full body scans?
They said the same about the Glock when it came out. OMG the terrorist will smuggle them on airplanes. I have a Glock the barrel and slide are made of steel. Plus all the springs and the ammo.

The scanners they have to day can detect an objects shape. Look online and see what they see. If it looks like a gun it probally is one. And if it looks like a bullet it probally is one. Why do think some folks are up in arms about the full body scans?

But aren't those scanners being pulled from service? Also they were only ever in a few select airport locations. Not at the entrance to every government building, school, sports stadium, convention center, amusement park and the like, a place where a terrorist still could do considerable damage.

<edit>I can even think of worse consequences. Some terrorist painting his plastic gun orange, like a toy, and getting it by security at an event by pointing out it is plastic and saying it is a toy, then using it. After that every child with a toy gun in his hands is going to get shot by the police as they can't tell the difference between a toy and the real thing.

The scanners they have to day can detect an objects shape. Look online and see what they see. If it looks like a gun it probally is one. And if it looks like a bullet it probally is one. Why do think some folks are up in arms about the full body scans?

But aren't those scanners being pulled from service? Also they were only ever in a few select airport locations. Not at the entrance to every government building, school, sports stadium, convention center, amusement park and the like, a place where a terrorist still could do considerable damage.

<edit>I can even think of worse consequences. Some terrorist painting his plastic gun orange, like a toy, and getting it by security at an event by pointing out it is plastic and saying it is a toy, then using it. After that every child with a toy gun in his hands is going to get shot by the police as they can't tell the difference between a toy and the real thing.

Back when the Glock first came out there was a huge cry that terrorists would get them on planes. The scanners of those days was still able to see the outline of the whole gun and the ammo. Hell you see a palstic comb plane as day ( no pun inteneded) And in this day and age why would any parent let a kid tote a toy gun to any public place. And It should raise securitys eyebtrows if an adult is carryinng one.

I think the real danger is for a terrorist to use common material to hide in plane sight a weapon that can kill. Think a cane that is hollow, An oxygen tank. Tubing and .33 caliber balls of steel or glass. I wonder what a glass ball at x amount of mass at 2000 psi has for kinectic energy? [/quote]